Metallic lath construction



Nov. 1, 1932. G. 5. GREULICH METALLIC LATH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1.1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snow foe G. G. GREULICH METALLIC LATH CONSTRUCTIONFiled June 1. 1929' 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2- dew/"Lew Patented Nov. 1, 1932GERALD G. GREULICH,

PATENT OFFICE OF CLEVELAND, OHIO METALLIC LATE CONSTRUCTION Applicationfiled June 1, 1929. Serial No. 367,644.

This invention relates to metallic lath and particularly to that formwhich is known as expanded metal lath. Such lath has been widely used asa form for concrete or other plastic material, and as a reinforcingmedium in the construction of floors, roofs, and walls. The lath isusually made in sections of a size convenient to handle, and in generalcomprises ribbed portions and intervening expanded portions. It isintended to act as a form for the concrete until it sets or hardens, andthen it is intended to function as a reinforcing medium. 7

From the viewpoint of the contractor this material is convenient tohandle and store, but it is objectionable, as it allows water andmaterials to drip through, thus materially weakening the concrete. Thiswastage has been so pronounced that to assure the construction, forexample, of a two inch slab, it has been necessary to use quantities ofmaterials which would normally be suflicient for a two and one half inchslab. It is obvious that apart from the wasta. e it has been necessaryto clean the floors be ow from the accumulation of drippings.

To overcome these difficulties, there is now being used a woven wirereinforcin material with a paper backing, but as th1s material ismanufactured and shipped to the job in roll form considerable floorspace must be cleared before it can be effectively used.

Furthermore, it must be placed under tension, and for economic reasons,this is best obtained by stretching the wires in relatively long stripsand then fastening them securely into place. Expanded metal lath on theother hand need not be stretched, and can be handled and stored inconvenient lengths ofapproximately 2 ft. x 8 ft., thus enabling thecontractor to follow up the work of the other building tradesprogressively.

From the viewpoint of the architect or engineer, the expanded metallathis objectionable, as it rusts within a relatively short time, andhence loses its effectiveness as a reinforcing medium. The rustingresults by reason of the fact thatthe under surface as applied to floorslabs is exposed to the atmosphere, notwithstanding the fact that thelath is painted before it is shipped from the factory. To overcome thishandicap and yet to obtain the advantages inherent in the use ofexpanded metal lath, it has been customary to use additional reinforcingmembers above not easily adapted for production work. Fur- 4 thermore,the pierced paper is apt to allow seepage of water and materialtherethrough. An object of mv invention is to preserve all of theadvantages inherent in the use of expanded metal lath, and at the sametime to overcome the objections which have been heretofore pointed out.In this connection, my invention contemplates a construction whichincludes the use of a backing sheet, together with provision forattaching the sheet to the metal in such manner as to avoid thenecessity for piercing the sheet at any point, and yet to provide anattachment which is well adapted for quantity production. A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a construction which obviates thenecessity of painting to resist rust, thus reducing the cost ofmanufacture and eliminating a fire hazard in connection therewith.Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a section through a floor slabwhich is reinforced with expanded metal lath embodying the features ofmy invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View showing means for connectingadjacent sections of lath; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on an enlargedscale through one of the ribs Fig. 4 is a similar section showing theuse of a wheel for forcing the backing material into the rib; Fig. 5 isa section showing the step of pressing the walls of the ribs together;Fig. 6 is a section through the ribs showing the completed operation;Fig. 7 1s a sectional view through the ribs showing a modifiedarrangement for fastening the pa- 1 cent sections.

per to the rib, and Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 2.p

The reinforcing material on which I have shown my invention may comprisethe usual lath having expanded mesh portions 10, which are separated byrib portions 11 in the usual way. The rib extending along one side ofeach section has a flange portion 12 while that on the other side has aflange portion 13 which extends throughout the length of the section.The flange 13 of one sheet overlaps the flange 12 of an adjacent sheet,and in effect, provides an interlock between adj a- My invention isconcerned with a backing sheet for the lath particularly for theexpanded portion to prevent material from seeping through before theslab has set. My invention also contemplates a method of manufacturewhich will permit such backing sheet to be attached to the lath withoutmaterially increasing the cost and without interfering with the normaluse of the lath as a reinforcing medium.

The backing sheet which I employ is indicated at 15 as extendingentirely across one face of the length and as being attached thereto atthe ribbed portions. The backing ma- I terial preferably comprises heavywaterproof paper which extends substantially throughout the length ofthe section and entirely across from one side to the other. The papermay be tucked into the ribs and a strip of twine constituting a fillerstrip may be imbedded into the fold, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig.7, the paper is shown as being crimped within the rib as at 21. Thisobviates the necessity for the use of an interlocking cord, and yetprotects the metal from exposure to the elements.

The use of paper as a backing material for expanded metal lath asembodied in my invention is extremely practical, as it can be readilyfastened to the lath in a simple and expeditious manner. For example;Fig. 3 shows the rib without the paper in place; Fig. 4 shows the paperwith a strip of twine being pressed simultaneously with the paper into arib by a roller 25. This action may be immediately followed by acrimpinEoperation, as shown in Fig. 5. In such figure, the rib is passedbetween two cooperating rolls 26, which crimp the rib and paper to thedesired degree. The finished form is shown at Fig. 6.

To facilitate the joining of sections in a lengthwise direction, theribs at one end of each section are left open for a short distance, asat so as to fit over the ribs of an adjacent section. The paperpreferably terminates short of the end having the open ribs, as shown at27, but terminates substantially flush with the other end at 28. Thus,there is a slight overlapping of the paper at the j unction of adjacentsections, and the extent of such overlapping may be modifiedto suit theconsistency of the material on which the reinforcement is being used.

From the foregoing description, it'is evident that my invention providesa metallic lath which-is well adapted for manufacture on a productionbasis without resulting in a material increase in cost. It is alsoevident that my invention obviates the necessity for the use of extrareinforcing material, as the large size mesh allows concrete to passthrough the lath while the water-proof paper backing sheet holds theconcrete which has so passed through the lath until it has set. Thisprotects the metal from exposure to the elements on the under surfacethereof, thus enabling the expanded portion to serve as an efiectivereinforcement. The upper surface, being imbedded in the concrete,,isadequately protected and hence it is not necessary to paint the lath ashas heretofore been the practice. This not only results in a materialsaving incost but also in a reduction of the fire hazard which ispresent in the paint shops in which the lath has been coated.

A further advantage which is attained by the use of my invention is thefact that a relatively large size mesh may be utilized, thus effecting asaving in weight of metal used for reinforcing a given area.

I claim:

1. In combination, a section of expanded metal lath having ribbedportions and intervening expanded integral portions, a fibrous backingsheet therefor, and means including a filler strip for fastening thesheet to the section at the ribbed portions thereof without piercing thesheet in that portion which is adapted to contact with the material tobe reinforced, said sheet being free from the section adjacent theexpanded portions.

2. In combination, a plurality of expanded metal lath sections, eachhaving parallel ribs and intervening expanded portions, a fibrousbacking sheet for each section, each of said sheets having portionsthereof extending into some of the ribs andthe ribs having restrictedportions to hold the material therein, there being portions of the ribsadjacent one end .of each section being unrestricted, whereby they mayoverlap the restricted portions .of

the ribs on the end of an adjacent section,

and said material terminating beneath the unrestricted portion wherebythe backing sheet of one section overlaps that of an adjacent section.

3 A method of making a reinforcing material, comprising taking a ribbedexpanded metallic section, layinga sheet of paper upon the section andacross the rib openings, placing a filler member upon the paper and overone of the ribs, simultaneously forcing the filler member and part ofthe paper into the rib and then crimping the rib against the paper toclose the opening, and to hold the sheet 7 against the section withoutpiercing the paper, in that portion which contacts with the material tobe reinforced.

4. An expanded metal lath having ribbed portions extending from one sidethereof and expanded integral portions, of a fibrous load bearingbacking sheet therefor secured to the lath on the side opposite to theribs by means of the walls of the ribbed portions without piercing thesheet at that portion which is adapted to contact with the material tobe reinforced.

5. In combination a section of expanded.

metal lath having spaced ribs and integral expanded portions, and a loadbearing backing sheet therefor on the side opposite to the ribs, saidpaper being bent inwardly toward the lath and fastened thereto at spacedintervals by means of the walls of the ribs without piercing the paperin that portion which is adapted to contact with the reinforced.

6. In combination a section of expanded metal lath having open sidedribs and intervening integral expanded portions, a fibrous material tobe load bearing backing sheet therefor on the opposite side from theribs having its side 7 I edges lying within the open sided ribs, said asignature.

GERALD G. GREULICH.

